The silver lining of recent global events is how the rental real-estate industry advanced into a tech revolution. What was already the norm in owner-occupied households became widely available in larger-scale buildings, and the creation of new home automation solutions boomed.
At first, these innovations focused on allowing businesses to continue as normal (like contactless solutions to reduce face-to-face interactions). The industry quickly realized proptech wasn’t being utilized to the fullest, particularly regarding the resident experience. This led to an acceleration of tech creation and adoption across the hospitality landscape.
Now property managers are able to provide seamless service to everyone in the community, including property staff, maintenance technicians, residents, visitors, and even delivery personnel. How – you ask? Let’s take a look at what a day in the life of a tech enabled community looks like:
8 AM
Your team arrives, including the on-site property manager, Darius. Darius enters through one of the perimeter access points using his unique six-digit code. He does a quick walking inspection of the building’s common areas, which he can access along with the maintenance room and vacant units thanks to the Community Access solution.
As residents leave for the workday, their smart thermostats automatically switch into energy saving mode using geo-fencing technology (adjusts based on resident location).
11 AM
A resident is expecting a parcel delivery but isn’t home to accept it. They set up the delivery personnel with a time-sensitive code, allowing access between the estimated window of 11 am – 12 pm. The delivery personnel arrives at 11:22 am, seamlessly enters the building and the mailroom, drops off the parcel, and leaves. The resident is notified through the app.
1 PM
A sensor from a HVAC system flags an abnormality; it notifies you and Darius through an app alert. He arranges for a maintenance technician to come and check the machine.
Sarah’s dog is waiting for his daily walk. At 1:05 pm the dog walker enters through the building and apartment door using a code Sarah created for them to use between 1-2 pm on weekdays. At 1:40 pm the walker returns Sarah’s dog to her apartment.
2 PM
The residents in 10C are moving out. They do not need to wait around to hand over any keys, so they simply leave the apartment, which locks itself. The intelligent rental now knows to switch into vacant mode: the smart thermostat begins saving energy (only heating or cooling the unit enough to protect against significant temperature fluctuations), the lights turn off, and the former resident’s access code stops working. You can now take advantage of their early departure by setting work orders into motion.
3 PM
A Smart Water Valve+Meter notices a minor but ongoing leak in the water pipes of 13D. The IoT-connected tech cuts off the supply to prevent the issue from escalating and causing costly damages. You have been notified and are now able to arrange repairs. The residents who occupy the rental are on vacation, but their app notifications reassure them that the issue is being resolved.
In the apartment next door, the resident is taking a long shower. His water monitoring system recognizes the overconsumption but does not turn off the supply. The system acknowledges he is home. This usage will be detailed in the data report the resident and yourself will receive at the end of the month (and may encourage more sustainable choices).
4 PM
The HVAC technician arrives. Fortunately, he doesn’t require a team member to let him into the building, maintenance room, or vacant unit, as Darius created a unique access code sent via text. The technician efficiently completes the job.
6 PM
As residents begin the commute home from their workday, the geo-fencing tech triggers the smart thermostats in their rentals to start heating (or cooling) to their desired temperature.
7 PM
Earlier today, a prospective resident booked a tour of a vacant unit. It’s late as they’ve been busy at work, but thanks to the Self-Guided Tours solution, they can view the available rental without a leasing agent. After verifying their identity online, they received an access code. They seamlessly enter the building, look around common areas, and tour the apartment. They’re thrilled, as scheduling tours around work is usually challenging, and they’ve passed on previous opportunities because of this. Automatically prompted, the app collects feedback so you know whether to follow up with a call in the morning.
Our research shows that:
- Proptech in multifamily communities has the potential to increase resident retention
- 69% of current and prospective residents find the consistent connectivity of smart locks satisfying
- 71% of residents appreciate the consistent reliability of smart thermostats
Your multifamily property deserves tech that acknowledges the many moving parts of a community. Whether the goal is to deliver a next-level resident experience through convenient solutions, seamless access for employees, third-party vendors, and visitors, unassisted touring for prospects, or all of the above – a smart complex addresses all the needs of a bustling community while providing a seamless service for everyone.
Interested in the smart community concept? Get in touch with our team members today.
